Have you ever wondered why Bangladesh is suffering most environmentally despite having the biggest Mangrove Forest – Sundarban? According to the report global emission is very negligible (less than 0.47% of global emissions). Although the rate is negligible we are in the most threatening zone. This threat is not an abstract one. Bangladesh has incurred $3.72 billion in economic losses.
We are struggling to protect our people from cyclones, floods, droughts, air pollution and whatnot. Around 56 percent of the country’s population, or 9 crore people live in ‘high climate exposure areas’. If it doesn’t make us fearful, then we don’t know what else can be fearful for us.
Bangladesh’s Unique Biodiversity
Bangladesh is home to a stunning variety of ecosystems, from lush mangrove forests, and wetlands to man-made homestead ecosystems. Bangladesh is one of the most biodiversity-rich countries in the world. For instance, we can refer to our Hakaluki Haor (depressed land) and other wetlands are the most important natural ecosystems of Bangladesh. Moreover the hill ecosystems cover around 12% of the country’s land area. There is an occurrence of wide genetic variations in plants and animals, both in wild and cultivated/domes. The diverse agro-ecosystems of Bangladesh are rich in genetic resources of plants. And each ecosystem supports a rich array of species. Our country’s rich biodiversity isn’t just essential for our environment—it plays a crucial role in global conservation.
This biodiversity, however, is under severe threat. Salinization is reducing arable lands, and rice production—the backbone of the country’s food security—is declining at an alarming rate. The aggressive impacts of climate change are not just affecting the environment but are also posing grave risks to the economy and livelihoods.
PriyoShop’s Commitment to Sustainability
Understanding the urgent need to address these issues, PriyoShop, Bangladesh’s leading B2B marketplace, has embraced sustainability at the core of its operations. The platform is actively contributing to the fight against climate change by incorporating eco-friendly practices. These include using electric vans for deliveries, harnessing solar energy in all its hubs, and ensuring sustainable business practices across its operations.
PriyoShop’s initiatives are a small but significant step toward restoring harmony with nature and promoting sustainable development in Bangladesh. Recognizing these efforts, PriyoShop recently participated in UNCCD COP 16, a global platform for combating desertification and land degradation.
Key Learnings from UNCCD COP 16
UNCCD COP 16 provided invaluable insights into sustainable development strategies to the PriyoShop. The event highlighted the importance of restoring building climate resilience and adopting nature-based solutions to tackle environmental challenges.
Key takeaways include:
1. People-centric, climate-smart development: PriyoShop is building a development approach that considers climate impacts and creates small-scale solutions that are vital. Investing in carbon-free transportation, nature-based solutions for capturing natural sunlight and solar panels, and infrastructure in rural areas—including green hubs, resilient network connectivity, and water and waste management—will help us to be prepared for an influx of climate migrants.
2. Delivering development benefits with decarbonization: Emissions from energy, transport and industry can be reduced at relatively low cost and yield significant co-benefits related to air pollution, health costs and jobs. Implementing policies and shifting business infrastructure to a more sustainable path will increase their global competitiveness. With rapid urbanization, income growth opportunities exist for more efficient, low-carbon business models while increasing resilience and rural incomes.
3. Enabling environment and institutional realignment: With a stronger legislative and institutional capacity, Bangladesh can accelerate the implementation of existing policies and programs. Empowering local governments to plan and implement adaptation programs will be important. Addressing financial sector vulnerabilities will be critical together with policies to green the financial sector. Increased domestic and foreign private sector involvement, such as in climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy, is necessary.
Inspired by these learnings, PriyoShop aims to amplify its sustainability efforts by partnering with stakeholders, advocating for eco-conscious business practices, adopting environment-friendly legislations and continuing its commitment to green logistics and energy-efficient operations.
A Call for Collective Action
Bangladesh’s fight against climate change isn’t just a national issue; it’s a global concern. While the country bears the brunt of climate change despite its negligible emissions, it’s a testament to the urgent need for global solidarity. Bangladesh’s rich biodiversity and ecosystems are not just national treasures but hold immense value for the world.
As PriyoShop continues to lead by example in environmental stewardship, it also inspires others to act. Let us all, as individuals and organizations, take steps to protect our planet. Together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for Bangladesh and the world.